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10 Reasons the Ravens WILL win the Super Bowl in 2015: #8

By Carlos Avent

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Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco WILL finally crack the 4,000 yards per season mark.

Jan 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates after the Ravens

Joe Flacco has never thrown for over 4,000 yards in a single regular season. Even as he has begun to assert himself as the greatest quarterback in Ravens history, failing to crack 4,000 still looms over Cool Joe’s head in a league that gets excited over pass happy quarterbacks. Over the last 4 seasons, he has come pretty close:

2011-12: 3,610

2012-13: 3,817

2013-14: 3,912

2014-15: 3,986

Also on Ebony Bird: All-time greatest Ravens quarterbacks

Looking at this trend, a 4,000 yard season HAS to be imminent at this point, right?

Last season alone, Torrey Smith led the league in pass interference calls by drawing 12 of those for a total of 261 yards. Not all Torrey’s fault, but if that 12 was just 10, it would have put Flacco over 4,000 yards on the season.

But perhaps more importantly, it likely would have been the difference in 3 of the Ravens 6 losses last season that were decided by a touchdown or less.

Also on Ebony Bird: Joe Flacco’s shot at 4,000 yards in 2014 ruined by drops

Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen (28) is called for pass interference against Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

This would have subsequently changed the seeding of the playoffs, moving the Ravens into the 1st seed with a record of 13-3. It would also change the seeding of the Steelers (originally a 3rd seed), Colts (originally a 4th seed) and Bengals (originally a 5th seed). So essentially, if Flacco threw for over 4,000 yards in 2014, last seasons playoff seeding would look like this:

Ravens 1st – AFC NORTH champions, 1st round bye, home field advantage through playoffs

Patriots 2nd – AFC East Champions, 1st Round Bye

Broncos 3rd – AFC West Champions

Colts 4th – AFC South Champions

Steelers 5th – Wildcard (1)

Bengals 6th – Wildcard (2)

We haven’t seen this since the 2006 season when the results were NOT in our favor thanks to 5 field goals from Adam Vinatieri. But the 2014 Ravens were a much better team than the 2006 Ravens. That’s a story for another time.

So then you’ll have an AFC playoff situation that looks a bit like this:

Not far fetched at all if you think about it, right?

The Bengals will still lose their playoff game, keeping a 24 year tradition alive and well. The Steelers would inch out of Lucas Oil stadium with a win, but hit a brick wall in M&T Bank, similar to how they did in week 2 with a score of 26-6.

The Patriots seem to own Manning and the Broncos in Foxboro, but they would have found their hopes deflated against the Ravens, succumbing to the hostile environment and watching the Ravens march right on to Arizona to take on Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.

Our front seven would have cemented Beast Mode, forcing Russell Wilson to throw more and break the pocket under pressure. The last time I remember the Ravens dealing with a mobile quarterback the likes of Russell Wilson, they ended up hoisting the Lombardi trophy. This happens in Arizona against the Seahawks, and Lombardi #3 would be in Baltimore right now and we’d be hashtagging #QuestFor4 this season.

I’ll give you a minute to just imagine how sweet that whole scenario I just created would have been last season.

Just think…it could have all happened had the Ravens succumbed to a few less pass interference calls and added a mere 261 additional yards, which would have put Joe Flacco above 4,000 yards on the season.

Well that was very Dave Dameshek, N”if”L-like.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In 2015, this fantasy will become a reality. Flacco will throw for over 4,000 yards and launch the Baltimore Ravens right to the Super Bowl.

But who will be the recipient of those 4,000 yards in 2015?  Stay tuned for reason #7 to find out….

Check out reasons #9 and #10 the Ravens will win the 2015 Super Bowl.

Next: Joe Flacco: The most underrated QB in the NFL

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